*Overheard in the Store:
"For me, bra shopping is like going to the dentist. I put off both of them until something is actually falling out."
"Working in a cafe is like living with a toddler; there's always something else that shouldn't be, but is, inexplicably sticky."

The 2015 Jim Baen Memorial Short Story Contest has opened for submissions. They are looking for stories of near-future space exploration.  Deadlines and other details here: http://www.baen.com/baenmemorialaward.asp

NBC has released an official synopsis and behind-the-scenes video featurette on its upcoming television adaptation of the comic book "Constantine". http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/JoshWildingNewsAndReviews/news/?a=108553

Unfortunately, as promising as it looks, NBC is also using the adaptation to wipe away Constantine's identity as a bisexual man: http://www.advocate.com/commentary/2014/07/28/op-ed-nbcs-straight-washing-john-constantine-bi-erasure

The 2014 Sunburst Literary Awards for excellence in Canadian Literature of the Fantastic have announced their winners Ruth Ozeki and Charles De Lint!  For shortlisted books, jurors, and information on past winners go here: http://www.sunburstaward.org/2014-sunburst-winners

The Science Fiction Poetry Association has presented both the Dwarf Star, for poetry 1-10 lines, and the Elgin Award, for chapbook and full-length book of poetry.  First place winners are Mat Joiner, Helen Marshall and Bryan Thao Worra.  For second- and third-place winners check out the SFPA website here: http://www.sfpoetry.com/dwarfstars.html and here: http://www.sfpoetry.com/el/14elgin.html

Fantasy and horror author Robert Jackson Bennett breaks down the huge gender issues with the blockbuster book/film "Gone Girl": http://www.robertjacksonbennett.com/blog/gone-girl-and-the-fallacy-of-the-weaponized-female-sexuality

Fans of "Battlestar Galactica" will want to check out the trailer to Syfy's new 6 hour mini-series "Ascension".  Not only does it star BSG Alum Tricia Helfer, but it's all about shipboard tension.  It's set on a an arc ship that, just as it nears the point of no return, discovers a mysterious murder that leads them to question everything.  Check it out here: http://insidetv.ew.com/2014/09/30/syfy-ascension-tricia-helfer/

Osprey Publishing Group has sold the imprints Angry Robot (science-fiction & fantasy), Nourish (cookbooks) and Watkins (mind/body/spirit books) to American businessman Etan Ilfeld. http://angryrobotbooks.com/2014/09/angry-robot-news/

Warner Brothers is making another film of the Richard Matheson classic I AM LEGEND not even a decade after the Will Smith version grossed over half a billion dollars.  For anyone who has even the littlest bit of hope that they might be more faithful to the original story?  Get rid of that notion straightaway! The script is actually an original that has nothing to do with Matheson's book but that the writer is retrofitting to bear some resemblance to?!  Read it for yourself: http://deadline.com/2014/10/i-am-legend-reboot-sold-by-iphone-salesman-warner-bros-will-smith-844507/

The Bradbury Estate Auction managed to raise nearly half a million dollars. Check out what sold and for how much here: http://natedsanders.com/Catalog.aspx?auctionid=37&displayby=2&lotsperpage=100&category=1

Charlie Jane Anders brings us news of a Kollywood science fiction film actually written, directed and starring a NASA scientist.  Only time will tell if that is actually a good thing, but you can check out the trailer over at io9: http://io9.com/ex-nasa-scientist-writes-directs-and-stars-in-science-1641864984

New Zealand statistician Richard Vale has worked out a number of predictions for the future Game of Thrones novels, specifically how many POV chapters they'll have in upcoming works, based on previous installments.  He freely admits that there are many issues with his formula, but it's still fun to play the guessing game.  http://www.popsci.com/article/spoiler-alert-statistician-predicts-future-chapters-game-thrones-novels

In more Game of Thrones related news, you can now order a book and CD package called Living Language: Dothraki.  It is being released this month with everything you need to master the fictional language. http://www.scifinow.co.uk/news/game-of-thrones-fans-teach-yourself-to-speak-dothraki/

Lou Anders, who has been editorial and art director of the sf/f imprint Pyr since its creation 10 years ago, has stepped down to focus on his writing career.  Anders' first novel Frostborn was published this year by Crown Books. We wish Lou great success! http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/people/article/64071-anders-leaving-prometheus-books.html

Ursula K. LeGuin has been awarded the 2014 Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters by the National Book Foundation.  http://www.nationalbook.org/amerletters_2014_uleguin.html#.VDBmul6f_h5

Even though we've gotten hints and clips here and there, we finally have our first trailer for the new space film "Interstellar".  The studio is being surprisingly tightlipped, so a lot of the plot of this movie is still unknown; even the actual running time is still unknown.  However, the new trailer actually gives us a few answers: http://sciencefiction.com/2014/10/01/new-interstellar-trailer-reveals-movies-epic-mission/

The Sunburst Society announces the winners of its 3rd annual Copper Cylinder Awards, which are Guy Gavriel Kay and Cory Doctorow!  http://coppercylinderaward.ca/2014-copper-cylinder-winners

Over at io9, Annalee Newitz writes about what exactly it would physically take to transform New York City into a Mega-city.  She talks about issues like garbage, expansion and city walkways. Check out the whole thing here: http://io9.com/what-would-it-take-to-turn-new-york-into-a-megacity-1641252944

These 25 photos of mushrooms could easily be alien worlds -- creatures -- even machines.  Check them out and get your imagination flowing.  http://www.the-open-mind.com/25-stunning-photos-within-the-mystical-world-of-mushrooms/

NPR has picked up on the controversy surrounding the use of H.P. Lovecraft's image for the World Fantasy Award: http://www.npr.org/2014/10/04/353737040/horror-of-horrors-is-h-p-lovecrafts-legacy-tainted

We regret to announce the death of speculative author Eugie Foster, whose battle with cancer ended on September 27th.  Eugie won the Nebula Award and was nominated for the Hugo for her short stories rich in amazing imagery and beautiful language.  She published over one hundred short stories and had her work collected in numerous anthologies.  Her unique voice will be missed. http://boingboing.net/2014/09/27/rip-eugie-foster.html